Base layers are important. There’s no other garment you wear more often outdoors, so you need to be sure it’s a good one.
The two thing I look for most when buying a base layer are how lightweight it is and whether or not it has a hood. If your base layer is too heavy and warm, what can you do? You’ll start to sweat, and sweating in cold weather is dangerous. A hood is also supremely handy when you’re hiking in just your base layer and want extra warmth or protection from the sun. There are a lot of base layers out there; few are terrible, but few really stand out either. These are our favorites.
Adrienne So contributed to this guide.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
